Finance The Week That Was

Global stock markets experienced a significant surge during the week ending May 2, 2025, largely shaking off the deep concerns that dominated trading in April. A wave of optimism swept across major financial centres, driven primarily by unexpectedly positive economic news from the United States and renewed hopes for a de-escalation in the ongoing trade conflict between the US and China. This rally saw several benchmark indices reclaim substantial ground lost earlier in the year. However, this buoyant sentiment unfolded against a backdrop of mixed underlying economic signals and persistent anxieties regarding the broader impact of international trade policies. This report provides a detailed overview of market performance and key developments across the United States, Europe, Asia (with a specific focus on India), and Oceania during this eventful week.

The week ending April 25, 2025, was marked by significant turbulence across global financial markets. Investor sentiment swung dramatically, reacting primarily to shifting signals regarding United States trade policy, particularly the status of substantial tariffs aimed at China and other key trading partners. Markets began the period under pressure following the announcement of harsher-than-expected US tariffs earlier in the month, sparking fears of a global recession, escalating trade wars, and increased inflation. However, a notable rebound occurred mid-week across many developed markets as reports and official comments suggested a potential de-escalation and a willingness from the US administration to negotiate, offering tariff relief.

Global financial markets navigated a period of heightened volatility during the week ending April 18, 2025. The primary driver of investor sentiment and market movement was the significant uncertainty surrounding US trade tariff policies, which had been announced earlier in the month and came into effect on April 5th.1 This uncertainty triggered sharp market reactions across the globe, with major indices experiencing significant swings, particularly early in the week when some markets flirted with bear market territory

The week ending April 11, 2025, etched itself into recent market history as a period defined by extraordinary volatility across global equity markets. This turbulence was primarily ignited and sustained by the unpredictable and rapidly escalating trade policy actions initiated by the United States, particularly concerning the trade relationship with China. The constant stream of tariff announcements, retaliations, and shifting policy stances created an environment of profound uncertainty, overshadowing economic data releases and corporate earnings reports.

The week ending April 4th, 2025, unfolded as a period of significant upheaval across global stock markets. A wave of uncertainty and negative sentiment washed over exchanges worldwide, primarily triggered by the announcement of new, extensive tariffs by the United States. This development ignited immediate fears of an escalating global trade war, raising the spectre of retaliatory measures from key trading partners and amplifying concerns about a potential economic recession. The repercussions were felt across all major regions, with the United States experiencing particularly steep declines, followed by substantial drops in European and Asian markets, and notable corrections in the Oceania region. Investor confidence plummeted, leading to a surge in market volatility as capital sought refuge in traditional safe-haven assets.

The week ending March 28, 2025, presented a largely challenging landscape for global stock markets. A confluence of factors, most notably escalating concerns over inflation and the potential destabilising effects of newly announced trade tariffs by the United States, contributed to a prevailing negative trend across major indices. Fears of a slowdown in global economic growth, exacerbated by an ongoing trade war, further dampened investor sentiment. While the overarching theme was one of caution and decline, certain regional markets demonstrated pockets of resilience, hinting at underlying strengths or unique local factors at play.